So, you consider yourself a skier. You've blazed a trail through the Rockies, planted turns in the High Sierra, and even ventured north to the snowy slopes of Alaska. But you've yet to experience the rustic New England charm and natural beauty of wide-open groomers, technical trees and steep glades of the East. Too often considered a step down from the West, East Coast slopes are an experience no skier should overlook, and the best runs of the East are found throughout the Green Mountains of Vermont.
In Vermont's southwest corner, Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, topping out at 3,875 feet, embraces Southern Vermont's highest peak and best all-around family fun. With more than 70 percent of the mountain's 97 trails rated for beginner and intermediate skiers, it's perfect for all abilities. Meanwhile the mountain's always-festive pedestrian village plays host to a calendar full of winter festivals including all-day snow fun at 24 Hours of Stratton; the halfpipe, slopestyle and rail jam events of The Vermont Open; and live music and great food at Marchdi Gras Village Winterfest.
At Killington Resort in the heart of Central Vermont, everything is bigger. Known as "The Beast of the East," it is the state's largest ski resort, boasting six mountain peaks with more than 3,000 feet of vertical drop, 1,509 skiable acres and six unique terrain parks including the 500-foot Superpipe. And while Killington offers a variety of terrain options, more than a third of its 155 trails are rated most difficult. Best of all, Killington has the longest on-snow season in the East with skiing from October to June.
With the perfect blend of luxury and off-piste skiing, the six peaks of Sugarbush Resort in the Mad River Valley offer more than 4,000 skiable acres, not to mention more than 2,000 acres of backcountry ski terrain in the secluded Slide Brook Basin. Reach untouched powder snow and the East's only cat skiing in Sugarbush's luxurious 12-person Lincoln Limo. Then unwind amid the charming Sugarbush Inn or the slope-side ambience of Clay Brook before enjoying an elegant fireside dinner at Allyn's Lodge atop Lincoln Peak.
In Northern Vermont, luxury resides at Stowe Mountain Resort, where a storied history dating back to the 1940s makes this the quintessential New England ski experience. However, the 2016 season ushers in world-class upgrades and innovative additions to the old resort like all-new chairlifts, an inter-mountain transfer gondola joining Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak, a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center at Spruce Peak and base area extras including elegant eateries, shops and extravagant slope-side real estate. Stowe's finest addition is the 312-room Stowe Mountain Lodge offering guests two gourmet restaurants, a 21,000-square-foot full-service spa and lavish accommodations with expansive mountain views.
For youngsters, nothing beats Smugglers" Gulch in Northern Vermont. Starting with skiers as young as 2-3 years old, kid-friendly programs are specifically structured according to narrow age increments that more appropriately respond to the learning and development of children. In addition to alpine, snowboard and telemarked lessons, teenagers will stay busy with night jibbing lessons, airboard slalom courses and the Teen Alley Teen Center for nightly concerts and special events. Meanwhile, thrill seekers of all ages can test their skills on the East's only triple-black diamond slope-The Black Hole.
Mad River Glen to the north is home to the nation's last remaining single chairlift along with legendary expert terrain, great snow and uncrowded slopes free of snowboarders. That's right, Mad River Glen is one of only three remaining North American resorts that prohibit snowboarding. Making it even more unique, the resort's non-commercial, co-op ownership means families can enjoy loads of beginner and intermediate slopes, an intimate base area and a welcoming atmosphere, all in the company of an exceptionally dedicated staff.
Finally, Jay Peak is the place to be for the East Coast's best all-mountain exploration and ski terrain akin to Western resorts. The most snowfall in the East, averaging 355 inches a year, means loads of powder snow, and Vermont's only aerial tram means powder hunting throughout the mountain's more than 100 acres of glades and endless backcountry has never been easier.
But it's not all skiing and snowboarding in the East. In addition to a unique ski experience, Vermont's resorts offer their own spin on mountain mainstays like miles of Nordic trails, snowshoe trekking, snowmobiling tours, ice-skating, snow tubing and dogsledding, not to mention their own take on the mountain lifestyle. So break out of your ski comfort zone this season and head east where a whole new set of slopes and adventures await in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
